I am a Newbie. So I know how many problems a newbie can face. So I would like to give some advice to the newcomer from this little knowledge of mine.
1. First of all you are newbie, you know nothing about this forum. So you have to have a lot of interest to know about this forum.
2. The Beginner and Help thread will be the right place for you. So you get into this thread.
Not all the cases fall unto these. You know, just because you are a newbie doesn't mean you are literally new here. Some of them are alt accounts of the old members which they use for raising a complain without compromising their reputation. Some of them also use it for merit farming in the future.
But for those who are really new here, they fail on following the second tip you said. Why? Simply because the one who introduced this forum to them just focus the bounties/campaigns. So as a result, such members forget all the basics and the real essence of this forum — they simply jump on earning.
Ps: it is
reply not
replay 
.
Forum rank doesn't have to do with your knowledge about crypto, blockchain and Bitcoin.
i agree. I also see Members to Senior Members who are good in this field. But well, I consider them Legendary members in the making.